Ball lifting apparatus for bowling alleys



April 1955 R. 1. ANDERSON ErAL 2,707,105

BALL LIFTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING ALLEYS I 12 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1949 April 26, 1955 R. I. ANDERSON ETAL 2,707,105

BALL LIFTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING ALLEYS v 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1949 32/; 2770775. We erZ'I/irvde 715077.

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April 1955 I R. l. ANDERSON EI'AL 2,707,105

BALL LIFTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING ALLEYS April 26, 1955 R. ANDERSON ETAL 2,707,105

BALL LIFTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Oct. 5, 1949 12 She ets-Sheet 9 April 26, 1955 R. ANDERSON ETAL 2,707,105

BALL LIFTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING ALLEYS F'ild Oct. 5. 1949 l2 Sheets-Sheet 1O April 1955 R. l. ANDERSON EIAL 2,707,105

BALL LiFTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Y 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Oct. 5, 1949 n z @s m MW April 1955 R. 1. ANDERSON ETAL 07,105

BALL LIFTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Oct. 5, 1949 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 ,zFZz/zz %ar1s. faeri 1/? 7204221501 [11y 7277 ZZ/Z 17% Z61:

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United States Patent BALL LIFTING APPARATUS F OR BOWLING ALLEYS Robert I. Anderson, Wynn G. Winkler, and Isadore T.

Wurn, Muskegon, Mich, assignors to The Brunswick- Balke-Collender Company, a corporation of Delaware Application October 5, 1949, Serial No. 119,715

24 Claims. (Cl. 273-49) This invention relates to ball lifting apparatus for bowling alleys, and more particularly to ball lifting apparatus comprising a ball lifting cage normally carried in an elevated rest position and movable through a cycle comprising lowering the cage to receive a ball and lifting the cage with the ball therein to the elevated position where the ball is discharged.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for lifting a bowling ball from adjacent the pit of a bowling alley to an elevated ball return track.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ball lifting cage normally supported in an elevated rest position adjacent the return track, together with means for moving the cage through a cycle comprising lowering the cage to receive a ball from adjacent the pit floor and lifting the cage to discharge the ball at the elevated position.

Another object of the invention is to provide supporting means for the cage which are yieldable to cause the cage to stop in the event it strikes an obstruction during its downward movement without affecting the operation of the cage moving means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ball supporting cradle adjacent the floor of the pit together with means for initiating operation of the cage moving means to lower the cage to receive a ball from the cradle in response to the weight of a ball on the cradle.

Another object is to provide an improved ball lifting cage having a ball supporting portion which is movable relative to the cage upon engagement with a ball to admit a ball into the cage.

Another object is to provide a ball lifting cage having a side plate for covering substantially the entire area of the opening through which the ball passes from the pit floor when the cage is adjacent the pit floor.

Another object is to provide ball lifting apparatus having motion multiplying means for increasing the range of movement of the cage beyond the range of movement of the cage moving means.

Another object of the invention is to provide ball lifting apparatus including a ball lifting cage carried on a pivotally mounted lever arm, together with means for moving the cage through a cycle comprising pivoting the arm in one direction to lower the cage to receive a ball from adjacent the pit floor and pivoting the arm in the other direction to lift the cage to an elevated position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ball lifting cage supported by means of a flexible cable.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the preferred form of apparatus showing the ball elevator in ball discharge position, with parts of the adjacent bowling alleys removed;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the ball elevator in ball pick-up position;

Fig. 3 is an end view partially cut away to show the structure of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower portion of the apparatus of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view partially cut away to show the structure of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus Of Fig. 5;

2,707,105 Patented Apr. 26, 1955 Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the ball supporting cradle and the ball pick-up means;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention;

9 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus of 1g.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the portion of the apparatus of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section taken along the line 1212 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view with the pick-up device in lowered position;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section through the gear box mechanism utilized in both modifications of the invention, the section being taken alone the line 14-14 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section along the line 1515 of Fig. 14;

F Fig.416 is a vertical section along the line 1616 of ig. l

Fig. 17 is a vertical section along the line 1717 of; Figs. 14 and 15.

While the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and herein described in detail two specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The game of bowling is played upon a smooth ball rollway at the end of which bowling pins are placed in upright position in a prescribed pattern. The player rolls a ball down the rollway with the object of striking the pins to propel both the pins and the ball off the end of the rollway into a pit, from which a pin boy usually lifts the ball and places it on an elevated portion of a ballreturn track which conveys the ball by gravity back to the player.

One pin boy will generally service two adjacent bowling alleys and there is generally one common ball return track disposed between these alleys. The pit floor is generally sloped forwardly (toward the players end of the alley) so that the bowling ball and pins will bounce against the kickbacks and the pit cushion, then fall to the pit floor where they will roll to the front of the pit where the pin boy may reach them quickly. This invention provides improved mechanical means for lifting the ball and placing it on the return track for return to the bowler.

Referring now to the drawings, at the rear of a bowling alley ball rollway 1 is a pit having a forwardly sloping floor 2 below the level of the ball rollway. Kickbacks 3 at either side of the pit and a pit cushion (not shown) at the rear of the pit are provided to keep the ball and pins within the confines of the pit. The kickbacks have a cut out portion 4 to facilitate passage of the pin boy between two adjacent pits. A ball return track 5 is provided for each adjacent pair of bowling alleys and during a game of bowling each used bowling ball (by which is meant a ball which enters the pit after it has been rolled) from either alley is placed upon the rear elevated portion 5a of the return track where it rolls by gravity over the track back to the player at the other end of the bowling alley. The front portion of each kickback 3 is extended upwardly as shown at 7 above the normal level of the kickbacks, and the necessary apparatus for setting the pins (not shown) is generally mounted between the kickbacks on the elevated portion 7 thereof. It will be noted that the floor 2 of the pit is generally sloped forwardly toward the bowling alley rollway 1 so that the pins and bowling ball 6 will naturally roll toward the front of the pit where the pin boy may easily reach them to reset the pins, and to place the ball 6 upon the ball-return track.

Referring now to the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1-7, in each pit wall an opening 9 is provided at one side through the front portion of the kickback adjacent the end of the ball rollway 1, each opening being of a size sufliciently large to admit a bowling ball 6 therethrough. As shown in Fig. 4 the adjacent kickbacks of two adjacent bowling alleys are each provided with such an opening 9 similarly placed in alignment. A cradle generally designated 8 is mounted in alignment with the openings 9 in the space between the kickbacks at about the level of the pit floor 2. The cradle comprises a ball supporting structure 10 carr ed on a U-shaped bar 11, the rear or base portion of wh ch is mounted for pivotal movement in a bracket 12 WhlCh is bolted to the rear wall of the opening between the kickbacks. Each forward end of the bar is turned upwardly to provide a guard as shown at 11a, and those portions of the structure including 10 and 11 which come into contact with the bowling ball 6 preferably are covered with rubber or some other yieldable material. A pivotally mounted ball trip lever 13 is provided, this tirp lever having an upwardly extending bumper portion 14 for engagement with a ball 6 which rests upon the supporting structure 10. The trip lever 13 is connected to the stem portion 15 of an operating arm wh1ch 15 L- shaped and at its outer or base portion 15a is connected to a cable 16 for a purpose to be hereafter described.

The entire cradle assembly is held against pivotal movement about the bearing surface provided by the bracket 12 by a wing bolt 170 which is threaded into an opening in a bracket mounted on the floor between the kickbacks, this structure being best shown in Fig. 7. When it is desired to clean beneath the cradle it is merely necessary to remove the wing bolt and pivot the entire cradle structure upwardly about the axis provided by the bracket 12.

The members 10 are adapted to receive a ball 6 which passes from either adjacent pit through one of the openings 9. When the ball is deposited on the cradle, it engages the bumper 14 and depresses the bumper and the free end of the trip lever 13, rocking said trip lever about the axis of the stem portion 15 of the operating arm. This causes the stem portion 15 of the operating arm to rotate clockwise (as the parts are shown in Fig. 4) through a portion of a revolution, lowering the end 15a and exerting a pull on the cable 16 in order to initiate operation of the device as will later be more fully described in detail.

It will be noted that the bowling ball 6 will normally roll to the front of the pit by reason of the sloping of the pit floor 2, and from this position the pin boy need only push or kick the ball along the front of the pit through the opening 9 onto the cradle 8. This position of the opening 9 allows the pin boy to place the ball into the opening without having to turn around or hesitate in his work of picking up and resetting the pins.

The bowling ball return device is wholly mounted within the space generally provided between adjacent bowling alleys, a hood 171 over the device being readily removable to permit access to the top portions of the device and to the return track 5. If desired removable extensions (not shown) may be provided to facilitate placing the balls on the track by hand in the event of a machine breakdown. In Figs. l-7 the ball elevator thereof comprises an arm 17 mounted upon a pivot pin 18 which is supported upon the adjacent kickbacks. The pivot pin 18 is horizontal and perpendicular to the kickbacks to provide movement of the arm 17 about the pivot 18 in a vertical plane. A ball receiving cage 19 is fixedly mounted on one end of the arm and is movable therewith between the position of the cage and arm shown in Fig. 2 (characterized as a ball pick-up position) and the position shown in Fig. 1 (characterized as a ball discharge position). A portion 17a of the arm 17 projects on the opposite side of the pivot 18 and has a counter-balancing weight 20 movably attached thereto by a set screw 20a. In operation the weight is so adjusted that the arm 17, cage 19 and weight 20 are substantially balanced about the pivot 18, with the cage slightly overbalancing the weight 20 so that the cage and attached arm always exert a slight downwardly directed force about the pivot 18.

The cage 19 has side plates 21, and the cage is open at both the top and bottom. A plate 22 is provided at the front of the cage to which the arm 17 is attached. A stationary ball supporting member 23 is provided at the rear of the cage and a movable ball supporting member 24 is mounted in the front of the cage. Both of the members 23 and 24 are covered with some soft material such as leather, rubber or the like to prevent a bowling ball from coming in contact with any metal parts. The

member 24 is pivoted in a bearing 25 and moves about its pivot to provide sufficient clearance between the members 23 and 24 to admit a bowling ball. A hook portion 24a of the member 24 limits the pivotal movement of the member by bearing either against the plate 22 or a rod member 24b. When a ball is placed on the cradle support 10 in ball pick-up position, the cage and arm are lowered. The cage comes down over the ball with the supporting member 24 contacting the ball and pivoting upwardly to a position wherein the hook 24a goes past the plate 22. When the member 24 is in this position, sufficient clearance between the ball supporting members is provided to admit the ball. Once the bowling ball is admitted into the cage, the member 24 falls to its lower holding position as shown in Fig. 7, thus closing behind the bowling ball to retain the ball within the cage. The members 23 and 24 then support the ball during the upward movement of the cage. The side plates 21 cover substantially the entire area of the openings 9 when the cage is in its lowered position, thus providing an important safety feature in substantially blocking the opening prior to the power driven upward stroke of the cage. Cutout portions 21a are provided in the lower sides of the plates to permit the cage to descend to its ball receiving position even though a portion of a bowling pin is extending through one of the openings 9. Furthermore, should the pinboy inadvertently have his hand or foot in one of the openings 9 the cutout portion of the cage will prevent injury since the cage will not clamp the hand or foot against the floor.

The ball elevator is operated by a motor 26 which is connected to a speed reducing gear mechanism 27 which is disclosed in detail later herein. Louvres 27a are provided to permit air circulation to keep the gear mechanism cool. A crank 28 is connected to an output shaft 29 of the gear mechanism 27 to provide rotational movement thereof in a vertical plane about the output shaft 29 of the gear box. A link 30 is connected at one end by a pin 31 to the crank 28, and at the other end by means of a pin-and-slot connection 32 to a bracket 17b carried on the arm 17. The lever arm 17 provides for motion multiplication for increasing the range of movement of the cage beyond the range of movement of the cage moving means. The pin-and-slot connection 32 between the bracket 17b and the link 30 allows the cage to be stopped before it reaches the bottom of its downward movement without stopping the crank 28. Very little force is necessary to stop the cage and arm near the bottom of their movement since the cage, arm and weight are subsantially balanced about the pivot 18 as previously described. When the cage and arm are moved upwardly to lift a bowling ball, the added weight of the ball forces the pin 32a into the lower extremity of the slot 32b. However, the cage and arm are free to move relative to the link 30 a distance limited by movement of the pin 32a between the lower and upper extremities of the slot 32b. The slot 32b is of sufficient length to allow the cage to be moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to a position wherein the bottom of the cage would rest above the top of the openings 9 without moving the crank 28 or link 30. Thus, should the pin boy have his hand or foot projecting through the openings 9 in the kickback at the tlme the cage is descending, the cage will be stopped in its movement upon contact with the pin boys limb without injury thereto. This is an important safety feature of the present invention.

The motor 26 and gear mechanism 27 are operable in cycles which provide rotation of the crank 28 through 360 in each cycle. When a bowling ball is deposited upon the cradle 8, trip lever 13 pivots as hereinbefore described, pulling on the cable 16 which is connected to a lever 33 to trip a switch which starts the motor and gear mechanism upon one cycle. In the embodiment shown, the gear mechanism and motor are at rest in the position shown in Fig. 1 wherein the ball elevator is in its raised position adjacent the end of the ball return track. Upon starting the gear mechanism the crank 28 rotates about its shaft 29, the first 180 of rotation moving the ball receiving cradle from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2 where the cage picks up a bowling ball. The following 180 of rotation of the crank 28 then returns the cradle to the position shown in Fig. l where the bowling ball is discharged by gravity onto the return track 5. The gear mechanism 27 is adjustable to provide any desired cycle of movement of the crank 28 through any number of degrees of rotation. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the motor and gear mechanism are adjusted to start in the position shown in Fig. 1, rotate the crank through 360 and stop it in the position in which they started. Each time a ball is deposited upon the cradle 8 the gear mechanism is again activated to move through one cycle (360 of rotation of the crank) so that the ball elevator is operated automatically whenever a bowling ball is placed in position to be picked up by the ball receiving cage.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8-17, instead of a lever arm a flexible cable is connected to the cage for supporting the cage in its elevated rest position adjacent the return track. In the modified apparatus the ball supporting cradle comprises a pipe member 50 extending longitudinally of the alleys between the kickbacks and mounted for limited pivotal movement in a vertical plane. At the forward end of the pipe 50 a rod 51 projects transversely on either side of the pipe, and each opposite end of the rod is journalled in an opening in one of a pair of brackets 52 mounted on the floor between the kickbacks to provide a pivotal mounting for the pipe. A spring (not shown) connected to the pipe at its rear end biases the rear end of the pipe upwardly, the spring tension being insufficient to support the weight of a bowling ball on the cradle. Opposite the ball openings 9 in the kickbacks a pair of U-shaped ball supporting arms 53 are mounted on the pipe 50 to form the cradle. As later described, the pipe 50 is connected to the gear box to initiate each cycle of operation.

The cage, which is designated generally at 55, is formed of two side plates 56 and 57 mounted in spaced relationship between frame members 58 and 59. The plates are each of a size sufiicient to cover substantially the entire area of the ball openings 9 in the kickbacks so that when the cage is lowered the openings are blocked. A cutout portion is provided in each side plate as shown at 560 for protection against injury should a hand or foot of the pin boy he in the path of travel of the cage. This cutout portion also permits the cage to descend far enough to pick up the ball even if a pin projects through one of the openings 9', and the cutout portion prevents the cage from marring a pin should it inadvertently be placed in the opening 9' in the kickback, although the construction is such that only the weight of the cage will be applied to any object extending through the opening in the kickback so that injury to the operator or the equipment is prevented.

The cage has a ball holding bottom portion which is movable relative to the cage upon engagement with a ball to admit a ball into the cage. This movable portion comprises a generally U-shaped rod 63 at the rear of the cage and a similar U-shaped rod 64 at the front of the cage. These rods are pivotally mounted in brackets 65, stop lugs limiting the range of pivotal movement between a horizontal ball holding position and a substantially vertical ball admitting position. The stop lug on the rod 63 is so arranged that gravity causes the rod to fall back to its ball supporting position, while a spring 67 (Fig. 12) biases the rod 64 in horizontal position.

Rollers 60 on the cage engage vertical tracks 61 to provide for vertical movement of the cage. The tracks 61 are rigidly mounted on a backing plate 62 which extends vertically between the kickbacks in a plane transverse of the alleys. A cable 68 has one end attached to a bar 69 mounted between the side plates of the cage 55, the cable passing over a pulley 70 mounted to extend through an opening in the backing plate 62. On the rear side of the backing plate a sheave 71 is fixedly mounted and includes two independently rotatable pulleys 71a and 71b. Another sheave 75, including three independently rotatable pulleys 75a, 75b and 75c, is slidably mounted on a rod 80, a bar 81 holding the sheave 80 against rotation and in a plane parallel to the backing plate. After passing over the pulley 70 the cable 68 passes in succession over pulleys 75a, 71a, 75b, 71b and 756 in the respective sheaves 71 and 75, and the end of the cable is anchored to the backing plate at 82 (see Fig. 11). A counterweight 83 is secured by a chain 84 to the sheave 75. The crank 28 is pivotally connected to one end of a connecting rod 86, the other end of the connecting rod being pivotally connected to the slidable sheave 75.

A second cable 90 is connected at one end to a rod 91 mounted on the pipe 50 adjacent the rear or free end thereof and extending transversely from the pipe, and

the other end of the cable is connected to a lever 92 mounted on the operating shaft of the clutch for the gear box 27 and extending transversely thereof. A spring 93 normally pulls the lever 93 upwardly to keep the clutch disengaged, while a downward pull on the cable 90 will pivot the lever 93 and rotate the clutch shaft to initiate operation of the cage moving means by the weight of the ball on the cradle.

Means are provided and are adapted to be actuated by the cage for discharging the ball from the cage onto the return track 5. This means comprises a ball discharge member 95 and curved actuating member 96 both pivotally mounted in fixed relative position in a bracket 97 adjacent the upper position of the cage. As the cage rises the member 96 rides along a bearing surface 69a on the rod 69, pivoting the members 95 and 96 so that the member 95 pushes the ball out of the cage onto the return track 5 as shown in Figs. 8 and 10.

In the operation of the device, when a ball 6 passes through one of the openings 9' in the wall of the pit on to the supporting arms 53 of the cradle, the weight of the ball rocks the cradle about the axis of the rod 51, causing a downward pull on the second cable 90, overcoming the tension of the spring 93 and pulling down on the lever 92 to rotate the operating shaft of the gear box clutch so that the clutch becomes engaged and the crank 28, rotates, moving the connecting rod 86 upwardly and moving the slidable sheave 75 upwardly toward stationary sheave 71. The motion multiplying arrangement of the cable causes a six to one multiplication of movement in the apparatus illustrated, a seven inch movement of the sheave 75 resulting in about a 42 inch movement of the cage as the cage descends to a position where the rods 63 and 64 engage the ball. Upon engagement with the ball these rods pivot upwardly admitting the ball into the cage, and as the cage approaches the downward limit of movement the rods 63 and 64 fall under the ball to hold it in the cage. As the one revolution clutch is rotated beyond 180 degrees, the connecting rod 86 and sheave 75 are moved downwardly, lifting the cage with the ball therein to the normal rest position adjacent the return track. As the cage approaches its normal elevated position the actuating member 96 rides along the bearing surface 69a of the rod 69 carried on the cage, pivoting the members 95 and 96 so that the member 95 pushes the ball out of the cage on to the return track, after the clutch has completed one revolution it becomes disengaged in a manner later to be described, the motor 26 continuing to operate. In this form of the invention the openings 9 are spaced from the end of the bail rollway, while in the form of Figs.l7 the openings 9 are immediately adjacent the end of the rollway.

The drive mechanism includes the motor 26 and the gear box 27 which will now be described in more detail, reference being had to Figs. 14-17. The motor 26 is connected by means of a belt 100 (Figs. 3, 5, 8 and 10) to a pulley 101 on the input shaft 102 of the gear box 27.

As illustrated herein the input shaft 102 is rotatably supported in antifriction bearings 103 and 104. Loosely supported on the shaft by means of bushings 105 and 106 is a worm 107. This worm meshes with a worm wheel 108 which is keyed to the output shaft 29 which is rotatably supported in the casing by antifriction bearings 109 and 110 on an axis transverse to that of the shaft 102. The outer end of the shaft 29 carries the crank 28 which is periodically given a single rotation by engagement of a clutch mechanism which comprises a coiled clutch spring 111, a portion of which circumscribes a cylindrical clutch face 112 on an extension 113 on the worm 107, and the remainder of which circumscribes a cylindrical clutch face 114 on an annular bushing 115 which is secured to the shaft 102, as by a key 116. Externally the spring is surrounded in part by an annular member 117 fixed in a bore 11811 in the casing 118 of the apparatus, the member 117 being fixed by a key 117a, as shown in Fig. 16. Another part of the spring is surrounded by the tubular member 119 fixed to and rotatable with the worm. One end 120 of the clutch spring 111 is bent radially inward and then turned at right angles to the coil of the spring and anchored in the slot 121 cut in the adjacent portion of the worm (Figs. 14, 15 and 17). The clutch spring 111 is normally coiled so as to wrap around and engage the clutch surfaces 112'and 114 of the worm portion 113 and the bushing 115 respectively, and thereby form a clutch between said parts which causes the worm to rotate with the shaft 102. It is possible to release the clutch by stopping rotation of the opposite end 123 of the clutch spring (Figs. 16 and 17), thus causing the spring to unwind from drive contact with the parts 113 and 115. A braking action for the worm is obtained by the expansion of the spring into engagement with the interior of the parts 117 and 119, due to the inertia of the worm and parts driven thereby.

Generally it is desirable to have the clutch normally disengaged so that the motor 26 may continuously operate. To accomplish this a control arm 124 is secured to a horizontally extending control shaft 125 which is rotatably journalled in the end walls of the casing 118 in bores 126 and 127. The arm 124 has an upwardly extending portion 128 which is normally positioned in the path of the end 123 of the clutch spring to unwrap it from the parts 113 and 115. The control shaft 125 carries a second arm 129 and a coiled spring 130 is connected intermediate the free end of the arm 129 and an adjustable screw device 131 supported in the casing wall to maintain the arm 124 in the position shown in Figs. 15 and 16.

The arm 129 has a projecting portion 132 (Figs. 14 and 15) which is engageable by a cam 133 secured to the worm wheel 108. As best shown in Fig. 17, this cam is generally circular with the exception of a notch at 134 into which the projection 132 extends when the portion 128 of the arm 124 engages the clutch spring end 123 to disengage the clutch.

As the control shaft 125 is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction, as by pulling on the cable 16 of Figs. 1-7 or the cable 90 of Figs. 8-13, and with the shaft 102 rotating in a counter-clockwise direction the portion 128 of the arm 124 is momentarily withdrawn from its position in front of the end 123 of the clutch spring. Due to its normal tendency to contract, the clutch spring then engages the parts 113 and 115 and drives the worm 107 with the shaft 102. As soon as the worm rotates sutficiently to rotate the cam 133 in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 17, sufficiently to move the circular periphery of the cam under the projection 132 of arm 129, the cam 133 serves to maintain the arm portion 128 out of engagement with the end 123 of the clutch spring. The clutch then remains engaged until the crank shaft 29 has completed one revolution, where upon the projection 132 reenters the notch 134 in the cam 133 and permits the spring 130 to rotate the control shaft 125 in a clockwise direction as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, to position the arm portion 128 in the path of the rotating end 123 of the clutch spring. The end 123 of the spring 111 is therefore stopped the next time it comes around and the clutch spring is released to disengage the clutch.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track from adjacent the floor of a bowling alley pit having a side wall with an opening through WhlCh a ball may roll from said pit floor, comprising in combination, a ball supporting cradle adjacent said open ng for receiving balls which roll therethrough; a ball lift ng cage having side walls and a ball holding bottom portion which is movable relative to the side walls of the cage upon engagement with a ball to admit the ball into the cage, one of said side walls providing a closure member covering substantially the entire area of said opening when the cage is adjacent the pit floor; means for supporting said cage in an elevated rest position; a support operating means for moving the cage through a cycle comprising lowering the cage to receive a ball from sa d cradle and lifting the cage with the ball therein to said elevated return track, the supporting means being yieldable to permit the cage to stop in the event it strikes an obstruction during the downward movement without stopping the support operating means, the supporting means including motion multiplying means for increasing the range of movement of the cage beyond the range of movement of the support operating means; and means for initiating operation of the support operating means by the weight of a ball on the cradle.

2. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track from adjacent the floor of a bowling alley pit having a side wall with an opening through which a ball may roll from said pit floor, comprising in combination, a ball supporting cradle adjacent said opening for receiving balls which roll therethrough; a ball lifting cage having a side plate providing a closure member covering substantially the entire area of said opening when the cage is adjacent the pit floor; means for supporting said cage in an elevated rest position; and support operating means for moving the cage through a cycle comprising lowering the cage to receive a ball from said cradle and lifting the cage with the ball therein to said elevated return track.

3. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track from adjacent the floor of a bowling alley pit having a side wall with an opening through which a ball may roll from said pit floor, comprising in combination, a ball supporting cradle adjacent said opening for receiving balls which roll therethrough; a ball lifting cage having a ball holding portion which is movable relative to the remainder of the cage upon engagement with a ball to admit the ball into the cage; means for supporting said cage in an elevated rest position; support operating means for moving the cage through a cycle comprising lowering the cage to receive a ball from said cradle and lifting the cage with the ball therein to said elevated return track, the supporting means being yieldable to permit the cage to stop in the event it strikes an obstruction during the downward movement without stopping the support operating means, the supporting means including motion multiplying means for increasing the range of movement of the cage beyond the range of movement of the support operating means; and means for initiating operation of the support operating means by the weight of a ball on the cradle.

4. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track disposed between a pair of spaced adjacent bowling alleys, each alley having a pit at the rear end thereof with a side kickback having an opening near the front of the pit through which a bowling ball may roll from the pit floor into the space between the pits, comprising: a ball elevator, including an arm mounted on a horizontal pivot supported between and perpendicular to said kickbacks and a cage carried on the free end of said arm and movable with the arm through an arcuate path about the pivot between a lower ball pick-up position and an upper ball-discharging position, said arm and cage being substantially balanced about said pivot; a ball receiving cradle mounted between the kickbacks of said alleys and registering with said openings for rollingly receiving a bowling ball from either of said pits, said cradle being adapted to retain a ball in pick-up position; operating means for said elevator having a gear mechanism operable by a motor, a crank connected to said gear mechanism and rotatable in a vertical plane and a link pivotally connected to said crank and having a pin and slot connection with said arm for moving the arm and cage through said arcuate path upon rotational movement of said crank, said operating means being operable in separately started cycles, said cycles each providing movement of said cage and arm to transfer one bowling ball from said cradle to the elevated portion of the return track; and means for starting said operating means upon one cycle including mechanism triggered by the weight of a bowling ball deposited in said cradle.

5. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track disposed between a pair of spaced adjacent bowling alleys, each alley having a pit at the rear end thereof with a side kickback having an opening near the front of the pit through which a bowling ball may roll from the pit floor into the space between the pits, comprising: a ball elevator, including an arm mounted on a horizontal pivot supported between and perpendicular to said kickbacks and a cage carried on the free end of said arm and movable with the arm through an arcuate path about the pivot between a lower ball pick-up position and an upper ball-discharging position; a ball receiving cradle mounted between the kickbacks of said alleys and registering with said openings for rollingly receiving a bowling ball from either of said pits, said cradle being adapted to retain a ball in pick-up position; operating means for said elevator having a gear mechanism operable by a motor, a crank connected to said gear mechanism and rotatable in a vertical plane and a link connecting said crank and arm for moving the arm and cage through said arcuate path upon rotational movement of said crank, said operating means being operable in sepa rately started cycles, said cycles each providing movement of said cage and arm to transfer one bowling ball from said cradle to the elevated portion of the return track; and means for starting said operating means upon one cycle including mechanism triggered by the weight of a bowling ball deposited in said cradle.

6. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 5, wherein said cradle is pivotally mounted and readily releasable locking means are provided for holding said cradle in ball receiving position, said cradle being pivoted to an out of the way position when the locking means are released.

7. An automatic ball return for a bowling alley, comprising: an arm mounted on a horizontal pivot supported between the kickbacks of adjacent bowling alley pits to provide swinging movement of the arm in a vertical plane between a lower position and a raised position, a ball receiving cage mounted on the free end of said arm and movable with the arm from a lower ball pick-up position to a raised ball discharge position adjacent the end of a ball return track; a ball receiving cradle into which a ball may roll from either adjacent pit and adapted to retain the ball in the pick-up position in the path of said cage, operating means for swinging said arm and cage between said pick-up position and said discharge position, said means being cyclically operable for lifting one ball from said cradle to the discharge position, and means triggered by the weight of the ball rolling into said cradle for starting said operating means.

8. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track disposed between a pair of spaced, adjacent bowling alleys, each alley having a pit at the rear end thereof with side kickbacks, comprising: a ball positioning cradle mounted between the pits and adapted to rollingly receive a ball from either adjacent pit and to retain the ball in a pick-up position, a ball elevator having an arm mounted on a pivot supported between and perpendicular to the adjacent kickbacks to provide swinging movement of said arm about the pivot from a lower position to a raised position and a ball lifting cage carried on the free end of said arm and movable with the arm through an arcuate path from a lower ball pick-up position to a raised ball discharge position, said cage having fingers mounted therein adapted to spread apart to admit a ball into the cage and to support the ball therein while the cage is moved from the pick-up position to the discharge position where the ball is transferred from said cage, and means operable for moving said arm and cage between the ball pick-up position and the ball discharge position upon deposit of a bowling ball upon said cradle.

9. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track disposed between a pair of spaced, adjacent bowling alleys, each alley having a pit at the rear end thereof with side kickbacks, comprising: an arm mounted on a horizontal pivot supported between and perpendicular to the kickbacks between the alleys, a ball receiving cage carried on the free end of said arm and movable with the arm from a lower ball pick-up position to a raised ball discharge position, said cage having a ball holding portion which is movable relative to the remainder of the cage to admit a ball into the cage and a top discharge opening, means for positioning a ball from either adjacent bowling alley in a pick-up position in the path of said cage, and means for moving said arm and said cage to elevate a ball from said pick-up position to the discharge position where it is transferred from said cage through its top discharge opening and onto said elevated return track.

10. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track disposed between a pair of spaced, adjacent bowling alleys, each alley having a pit at the rear end thereof with side kickbacks, comprising: an arm mounted on a horizontal pivot supported between and perpendicular to the kickbacks between the alley pits, a ball receiving cage carried on the free end of said arm and swingingly movable with the arm about the pivot between a lower ball pick-up position and a raised ball discharge position, said cage having a ball holding portion which is movable relative to the remainder of the cage to admit a ball into the cage and a top discharge opening, means for receiving a bowling ball from either adjacent bowling alley pit in a pick-up position in the path of said cage, and operating means for moving said arm and cage to elevate a ball from said pick-up position to the discharge position including, a rotatable crank connected to a power means and a link connecting said crank and arm, said link having a pin and slot connection with said arm and said arm and cage being substantially balanced about said pivot to allow the arm and cage to be stopped readily in their downward movement without stopping said operating means.

11. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track disposed between a pair of spaced, adjacent bowling alleys, each alley having a pit at the rear end thereof with side kickbacks, comprising: an arm mounted on a pivot supported between the kickbacks between alley pits to provide swinging movement of said arm in a vertical plane about the pivot between a lower position and a raised position, a ball receiving cage carried on the free end of said arm and movable with the arm between a lower ball pick-up position removed from an end of the ball return track and a raised ball discharge position adjacent the end of the ball return track, said cage having a bottom opening through which the ball is admitted to the cage, a top opening through which the ball is discharged onto the return track and means operable to retain a ball in the cage after admission through the bottom opening.

l2. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track disposed between a pair of spaced, adjacent bowling alleys, each alley having a pit at the rear end thereof with side kickbacks, comprising: an arm mounted on a pivot supported on adjacent kickbacks between the pits, a ball receiving cage carried on the free end of said arm and movable with the arm about said pivot through an arcuate path in a vertical plane between a lower ball pick-up position and a raised ball discharge position adjacent the end of a ball return track, said cage having a bottom opening through which the ball is admitted to the cage, 21 top opening through which the ball is discharged onto the return track and means operable to retain a ball in the cage after admission through the bottom opening, and power means for imparting said movement to said cage and arm, said arm and cage being substantially balanced about said pivot and adapted to be stopped in movement upon meeting an obstruction without stopping said power means.

13. A ball-return mechanism for use with the pits of a pair of adjacent bowling alleys and a common ballreturn track extending between the alleys having an elevated portion adjacent the pits, comprising, in combination, a ball elevator having an arm mounted on a pivot and a ball receiving cage carried on the free end of said arm and movable with said arm about said pivot through an arcuate path between a ball pick-up position and a ball discharge position adjacent the elevated portion of the ball-return track, and means automatically operative by reason of the deposit of a ball from either adjacent alley in said pick-up position to actuate said ball elevator to lift a ball from the pick-up position to the ball-return track.

14. A ball-return mechanism for use with the pits of a pair of adjacent bowling alleys and a common ball-return track extending between the alleys and having an elevated portion adjacent the pits, comprising, a ball elevator having an arm mounted on a pivot and a ball-receiving cage carried on the free end of said arm and movable with the arm through an arcuate path in a vertical plane between a lower ball pick-up position aligned with the front portion of the pits and a raised ball-discharge position adjacent the elevated portion of the ball-return track, said cage having a bottom opening through which a ball is admitted to the cage and a top opening through which the ball is discharged onto the return track.

15. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track from adjacent the floor of a bowling alley pit having a side wall with an opening through which a ball may roll from said pit floor, comprising, in combination, a ball supporting cradle adjacent said opening for receiving balls which roll therethrough; a ball lifting cage having side walls and a ball holding bottom portion which is movable relative to the side walls of the cage upon engagement with a ball to admit the ball into the cage, one of said side walls providing a closure member covering substantially the entire area of said opening when the cage is adjacent the pit floor; a flexible cable connected at one end to said cage for supporting the cage in an elevated rest position adjacent said return track; cable operating means for moving the cage through a cycle comprising lowering the cage to receive a ball from said cradle and lifting the cage with the ball therein to said elevated position, said cable being anchored at its other end and the cage moving means including a motor, speed reducing means coupled to said motor, a one-revolution clutch having a driven element connected to said speed reducing means, and a plurality of pulleys engaging said cable, at least one of said pulleys being movable toward and away from other of said pulleys to provide motion multiplying means for increasing the range of movement of the cage beyond the range of movement of the movable pulley; a second cable connected to said cradle and to said clutch for initiating operation of the cage moving means by the weight of the ball on the cradle; and means actuated by said cage for discharging the ball from said cage onto said return track.

16. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball from adjacent the pit floor of a bowling alley to an elevated ball-return track, comprising in combination, a ball supporting cradle adjacent the fioor of the pit; a ball lifting cage having a ball holding portion which is movable relative to the remainder of the cage upon engagement with a ball to admit the ball into the cage; a flexible cable connected at one end to said cage for supporting the cage in an elevated rest position adjacent said return track; cable operating means for moving the cage through a cycle comprising lowering the cage to receive a ball from said cradle and lifting the cage with the ball therein to said elevated position, said cable being anchored at its other end and the cage moving means including a motor, speed reducing means coupled to said motor, a one-revolution clutch having a driven element connected to said speed reducing means, and a plurality of pulleys engaging said cable, at least one of said pulleys being movable toward and away from other of said pulleys to provide motion multiplying means for increasing the range of movement of the cage beyond the range of movement of the movable pulley; and means for discharging the ball from said cage onto said ball-return track.

17. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball from ad-.

jacent the pit floor of a bowling alley to an elevated ball return track, comprising in combination, a ball supporting cradle adjacent the floor of the pit; a ball lifting cage having a ball holding portion which is movable relative to the remainder of the cage upon engagement with a ball to admit the ball into the cage; a flexible cable connected at one end to said cage for supporting the cage in an elevated position adjacent said return track; and means for moving the cage through a cycle comprising lowering the cage to receive a ball from said cradle and lifting the cage with the ball therein to said elevated position, said cable being anchored at its other end and being arranged to provide motion multiplying means for increasing the range of movement of the cage beyond the range of movement of the cage moving means.

18. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track from adjacent the floor of a bowling alley pit having a side wall with an opening through which a ball may roll from said pit floor, comprising in combination, a ball supporting cradle adjacent said opening for receiving balls which roll therethrough; a ball lifting cage having a side plate providing a closure member covering substantially the entire area of said opening when the cage is adjacent the pit floor, the bottom of said cage comprising fingers mounted therein adapted to spread apart upon engagement with a ball to admit said ball into the cage and to support the ball therein; means for supporting said cage in an elevated rest position; and support operating means for moving the cage through a cycle comprising lowering the cage to receive a ball from said cradle and lifting the cage with the ball therein to said elevated return track.

19. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated return track from adjacent the floor of a bowling alley pit having a side wall with an opening through which a ball may roll from said pit floor, comprising in combination, a ball supporting cradle adjacent said opening for receiving balls which roll therethrough; a ball lifting cage having a side plate providing a closure member covering substantially the entire area of said opening when the cage is adjacent the pit floor, the

bottom of said cage comprising horizontally extending fingers pivotally mounted therein adapted to pivot upwardly upon engagement with a ball as the cage descends to admit said ball into the cage, said fingers being biased in horizontal position so that they fall back under the ball and form a support for the ball in the cage; means for supporting said cage in an elevated rest position adjacent said return track; and support operating means for moving the cage through a cycle comprising lowering the cage to receive a ball from said cradle and lift ing the cage with the ball therein to said elevated position.

20. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball to an elevated ball return track which is disposed adjacent a bowling alley having a pit and spaced kickbacks comprising, a pivot pin supported on one of said kickbacks forwardly of the pit and an end of the ball return track, an arm pivotally mounted on said pin and extending rearwardly from the pin, a ball receiving cage fixedly mounted on the free end of said arm and movable with the arm in an arcuate path between a lower ball pick-up position removed from said end of the ball return track and a raised ball discharge position adjacent said end of the ball return track wherein the ball may roll from the cage onto the ball return track by gravity, said cage having a first opening through which the ball is admitted to the cage, a second opening in the top of the cage to permit the gravity release of the ball and means operable to retain a ball in the cage after admission thereof through said first opening.

21. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball from adjacent the pit floor of a bowling alley to an elevated ball return track, comprising, in combination, a ball supporting cradle adjacent the floor of the pit, a ball lifting cage having an open top movable between a lower ball receiving position and an upper ball discharging position, said cage having a stationary finger and an opposed movable finger on its underside, said movable finger being movable upon engagement with a ball as the cage descends to admit said ball into the cage and being movable after the ball is in the cage to form a support underneath the ball, said cage having a pair of side plates spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a bowling ball to hold the ball against movement along said fingers during elevation of the cage to its upper ball discharge position, means for supporting said cage in an elevated rest position and support operating means for moving the cage through a cycle comprising lowering the cage to pass over and receive a ball from the cradle and lifting the cage with the ball therein to said upper ball discharging position.

22. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball from adjacent the pit floor of a bowling alley to an elevated ball return track, comprising, in combination, a ball supporting cradle adjacent the floor of the pit, a ball lifting cage having an open top movable between a lower ball receiving position and an upper ball discharging position, said cage having a pair of side plates spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a bowling ball, a ball holding portion at the bottom of the cage which is movable relative to the remainder of the cage to admit a ball into the cage, said ball holding portion and side plates confining the ball within the cage during elevation of the cage to its upper ball discharging position, means for supporting said cage in an elevated rest position, and support operating means for moving the cage through a cycle comprising lowering the cage to pass over and receive a ball from the cradle and lifting the cage with the ball therein to said upper ball discharging position.

23. Apparatus for lifting a bowling ball from adjacent the pit floor of a bowling alley to an elevated ball return track, comprising, in combination, an arm pivotally mounted above and forwardly of the pit floor and extending rearwardly from said pivot, a ball receiving cage fixedly mounted on the free end of said arm and movable with the arm in an arcuate path between a lower ball pick-up position wherein the cage is disposed substantially vertically and a raised ball discharge position wherein the cage is tilted at an angle from the vertical so that the ball may roll from the cage by gravity, said cage having a first opening through which the ball is admitted to the cage, a second opening in the top of the cage to permit the gravity release of the ball and means operable to retain a ball in the 13 14 cagi ager admissiton tftreof thrguglli said) igstfiopening. References Cited in the file of this patent pparatus or ing a ow ing a om adjacent the pit floor of a bowling alley to an elevated UNITED STATES PATENTS ball return track, comprising in combination, a ball sup- 204,972 Hellert June 18, 1878 porting cradle adjacent the floor of the pit; a ball lifting 5 1,068,131 Holland July 22, 1913 cage having a ball holding underside which is movable 1,097,687 Stevens May 26, 1914 relative to the remainder of the cage upon engagement 1,263,875 Fekete Apr. 23, 1918 With a ball to admit the ball into the cage; means for 1,2 Estabrook Jan. 28, 1919 supporting said cage in an elevated rest position; sup- 1,431,695 sevef ance 1922 port operating means for moving the cage through a 10 1,494,285 RegEllel' May 1 1924 cycle comprising lowering the cage to receive a ball 3 Z P 2 from said cradle and lifting the cage with the ball 2348540 {I 32 therein to said elevated position; and means for initiat- 1 g gg z 1953 ing operation of the support operating means by the 15 670,957 Ernst Mar 1954 weight of a ball on the cradle. 

